Not really; WG has, for some reason, been putting the CBT Sherman in the US tech tree every time they run a new update test. But, as far as I can remember, they 've never really implemented it into the official servers(thank God for that; that makes me feel special <3 ).

CBT Sherman: it's a reward for people that had taken part in the Closed Beta(+Open Beta) and had at least 1k random battles played in their accounts by the time live EU server opened, in April 14, 2011.

Not really; WG has, for some reason, been putting the CBT Sherman in the US tech tree every time they run a new update test. But, as far as I can remember, they 've never really implemented it into the official servers(thank God for that; that makes me feel special <3 ).

CBT Sherman: it's a reward for people that had taken part in the Closed Beta(+Open Beta) and had at least 1k random battles played in their accounts by the time live EU server opened, in April 14, 2011.

It is available for in-game purchase in RU-server, and that is why it has been available in test servers since they started.

Just like they said they’d never sell any of the tanks included in the pre-order packages?

Well thing is that the beta reward is common for all servers. Pre orders where not iirc. They had the KV-220 etc for that. And it's not the first time RU has sold the Mutant on their servers after pre orders closed for the Mutant on EU. Tho when it did happen in 2016, people went nuts even before they announced it for EU. But when it did happen during the Xmas sales in 2011/12 when they sold it there. Topics mentioning it here on EU.. simply instead wished it was sold here again. As a few had rage sold it or missed out on it. But then it was RU only. Why EU and NA decided to sell it again? Well who knows.

Tho Victor Kislyi that made the promise left WOT ages ago. I suspect the deal was off the table when he did leave.

They did do a special in the past where anyone could restore an extra tank from any time period by sending in another ticket. This was awhile ago and it was ontop of the one they used to do within 3 months? i think it was. I managed to get my Type 62 back this way which i sold years ago.

I used my other restoration on the light VIC AGES ago when i was a noob.. mistakes were made

They did do a special in the past where anyone could restore an extra tank from any time period by sending in another ticket. This was awhile ago and it was ontop of the one they used to do within 3 months? i think it was. I managed to get my Type 62 back this way which i sold years ago.

I used my other restoration on the light VIC AGES ago when i was a noob.. mistakes were made

I was a noob back then. I was a f2p player so sold it for garage and credits

One could always hope that EU follows the NA policy of restoring, apparently, any tank that you have played at some point and then sold. Not sure how they track e.g. tanks you've swapped in or whatnot, though.